Malum Argenteum
Well-Known Member
90g mixed reef display, 40 breeder sump/refugium, about 2/3 of that contains live rock (the other 1/3 is the skimmer/return pump/probes/reactor chamber -- separated by a baffle). The LR refugium used to be lighted for macroalgae export, but I switched to a sulfur reactor for nitrate control about 10 years ago.
I'd like to put that LR section to more use and try to encourage pods and other food sources and just increase biodiversity (by having an area that isn't constantly grazed). I've ordered a Tunze Eco Chic light to get some photosynthetic life going down there, but would like input on how to increase production of planktonic organisms that might get returned to the DT (either through the pump, or by me shaking out the macroalgae into the DT, or whatever).
I'd also like to know if there are other 'foods' that could be cultured in such a refugium; putting a pair of cleaner shrimp in there came to mind, to exploit the periodic releases of larvae as a food source (I usually have a pair in the DT, and they breed from time to time). Maybe this particular idea is a bit bonkers, but something along those lines may have been tried, I don't know.
I've read about increasing surface area with various "pod hotel" sorts of structures/media, and I may toss some Matala down there. 'Miracle Mud' seems popular enough, but I don't know much about it (I do know, though, that a 'miracle' is really just something we don't understand scientifically yet ;) ) Other than that I don't know what the tricks might be. Any input welcome.
I'd like to put that LR section to more use and try to encourage pods and other food sources and just increase biodiversity (by having an area that isn't constantly grazed). I've ordered a Tunze Eco Chic light to get some photosynthetic life going down there, but would like input on how to increase production of planktonic organisms that might get returned to the DT (either through the pump, or by me shaking out the macroalgae into the DT, or whatever).
I'd also like to know if there are other 'foods' that could be cultured in such a refugium; putting a pair of cleaner shrimp in there came to mind, to exploit the periodic releases of larvae as a food source (I usually have a pair in the DT, and they breed from time to time). Maybe this particular idea is a bit bonkers, but something along those lines may have been tried, I don't know.
I've read about increasing surface area with various "pod hotel" sorts of structures/media, and I may toss some Matala down there. 'Miracle Mud' seems popular enough, but I don't know much about it (I do know, though, that a 'miracle' is really just something we don't understand scientifically yet ;) ) Other than that I don't know what the tricks might be. Any input welcome.
